Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20

the Dlttiup mufHluLcu VIII Ps"
smile--it il professional 10 smile under
trying circumstances and with his
slow and stately tread descended the
steps to try the next one.
The next one succeeded trifie bet
ter, IL is true, but not completely. The
keyhole was 7nite big enough, to be
sure, but the wards stubbornly refused
to yield TO the gentle and dexterous
episcopal pressure. In vain did the
Bishop deity return TO the charge Qust
as il il we're visitation); in vain did he
coax and twist and turn and wheedle;
those stiff-necked wards INSTRUCTED his
passage as ruoely and stoutly as though
they had been uncompromising Glamor-
ganshire Dissenters. Baflied, but not
disheartened, the Bishop turned tenta-
lively to the third door. Oh, Joy! The
KEY fitsl it movesl it withdraws the
bolt readily from the clincherl The
Bishop pushed the door gently. Dis
appointment once morel The door was
evidently locked and fastened. "This
situation begins to grow ridiculous,
thought the Bishop. "One can almost
enter family, by proxy, into the per
sonal feelings Of our misguided brother,
the enterprising burglarl"
On the Bishop went, trying door
after door down the whole south side of
Eaton Place till he had almost reached
the very end. 1t was certainly absurd,
and, what was more, it was painfully
monotonous. 1t made man feel Ikea
chief in the night. The Bishop couldn't
help glancing furtiyely around him
and wondering what any Of his do
cesans would say if only they could see
their right reverend superior in this
humiliating and undignifed position
His hand positively trembled as he,
tried the last door but five, and when
il proved but one more failure to add
to the long list of his misfortunes he
took sidelong look to right and left,
and seeing light still burning feebly
within the hall he applied for a second
his own keen episcopal eye with great
reluctance to the big keyhole.
Next moment he felt heavy hand
clapped forcibly upon his right
shoulder, and turning round he saw
the burly figure of an elderly police
man, with inquisitive bulls eye turned
full upon him in the most orthodox
fashion.
"Now then, my man," the police
man said, glancing with scant regard
at his hat and CATERS, you've got to
come along with me, i take it. I've
been watchin' you all the way down
the street, and / know what you're up
to. You're loiterin' about with intent
to commit felony, that's just about
the size of what you're DOM"
DR.. Brandreth drew himself up to
his full height and answered in his
seyerest tone: "My good fellow, you
are quite mistaken. 1 am the Bishop
of Winchester. i don't remember the
exact number of my own door, and I've
been trying the latchkey, on my re-
turn from the House of Lords, to see
which keyhole it happened to open.
The policeman smiled a profes-
sional smile of waggish incredulity.
Bishop, indeed" he echoed con-
temptuously, "House of Lords Ex-
act numberl Cannon and spinachl
Very well got up, indeed, specially
the leggins. But it won't go down.
It's been tried on afore. Bishops is
played out, my man, 1 tell you. l
'spose, now, you've just been dinin'
with the Prince of Wales, and havin'
little private conversation at Lam
beth Palace with the Archbishop of
Canterbury" And the policeman
winked the wink Of knowing one at
his own pleasantries with immense
satisfaction.
Constable" the Bishop said stern
w, "this levity is out of place. If you
do not believe me to be what my dress
proclaims me, then you should at least
take me into custody as SUSPICIOUS
person without insulting my chSf'c ~
and dignity. Go down With ME 10 're
houses of Parliament in Gao anu l VIZ
soon prove to yon that you "ie q"i'o
The police.nan put his finger rudely
~ tbe Sid Of his nose. "Character and
dignity" he replied with unbecoming
tm9usement-" character and dignity,
| indeedl Why, my good man, | know
Won well enough, don't you trouble
Yourself My mates and me, we've
been lookin' for you here this three
months. Think don't remember you?
Oh. but do, though. Why, yu're the
party as got into q private house In
Pimlico last year, representing your
elf TO be a doctor, an cribbed gold
watch and ole lot of real silver from
the III suspectin' family. Come along
along with me, Bishop, I'm agoin' to
take your reverence right off down to
the station.
The poor Bishop temporized and ex-
postulated, but all to no purpose. lie
even ventured, sorely against his con-
science, TO try the effect of silver key
in unlocking the hard heart OF the mis-
taken constable; but that virtuous Of
ficer, with much spirit, Indignantly re-
pudiated any such insidiOus assaults
upon his professional incorruptibility.
The Bishop inwardly groaned and fol-
lowed him. "How easily" he thought
to himself with sigh, "even the most
innocent and respectable of men may
fall unawares under a disgraceful sus.
picion." For it is only in limited
and technical sense that bishops regard
themselves as miserable sinners.
Even as the thought flashed across
his mind he saw standing under
neighboring doorway a person who
was evidently endeayoring to escape
notice, and in whom his quick eye I'M
mediately detected the bodily presence
OF Captain Burbury. =.
Tie Bishop drew sigh OF relief
This was clearly quite providential. I'm
der any other circumstances he wouid
perhaps, have been curiousto know how
Captain Burbury came to be lingering
40 close beside his own hired house a
that unseemly hour. He would have
suspected an audacious attempt to com
municate with Iris, contrary to the pre-
sumed wishes and desires of her aifec
, tomato parents. But, just as thing
then stood, the Bishop was inclined
; to hail with delight the presence o
ANYBODY whatsoever who could person
ally identify him. He was in lenien
| mood as to improved suspicious. L
his horror, however, Captain Burbury
casting rapid glance sidewise at hi
. episcopal costume, shouted on
| | strikingly against the light from tn
| -t...-S1,..,o 1,,ll,o ava f,1rnq1 his Dac